Cactus Child
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1993 in Sydney, Australia |
| Founder | Ian Housten-Shadwell, Gemma Deacon |
| Defunct | November 1998 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, singles, extended plays |
Cactus Child was an Australian folk-pop ensemble established in Sydney in 1993 by guitarist Ian Housten-Shadwell and lead vocalist Gemma Deacon. They produced two full-length albums, Diaphones (released February 1996) and Earthgirl (issued July 1998), before their dissolution in November 1998.
History
The group originated in 1993 with members Gemma Deacon, Angus Diggs on drums, Chris Miller handling bass duties, and Ian Housten-Shadwell on guitar. By January 1994, the lineup expanded to include Joe Guiseppe-Accaria (drums and percussion) and Jan Sebastian (percussion). This formation recorded a six-track EP titled On, which was launched in September 1994 through Regular Records.
During 1996, Cactus Child toured as support for artists such as Lisa Loeb and Jeff Buckley. Their first album, Diaphones, produced by Craig Porteils, came out in February 1996 under Focus Records/Shock Records. By October that year, Maria Pavela provided backing vocals and Natasha Ramirez contributed violin parts on an occasional basis.
After signing with Grudge/Universal/BMG, the album Diaphones was re-released in 1997. Its leading single "Fall '97" featured enhanced production targeting radio listeners, with Carolyn Shine joining the band on keyboards and additional vocals.
In June 1998, the single "On the Money" was issued as a precursor to their sophomore album Earthgirl, released in July 1998 and recognized for its rich folk-pop soundscapes. The follow-up single "Long Way" was released in September. The band ceased activities by November of the same year.
Following the group's breakup, Ian Housten-Shadwell authored a novel entitled Slush Pile in June 2014. This satirical piece drew upon his experiences within the music industry and attracted attention due to its biting humor and insight into the challenges of fame and creativity.
Members
- Gemma Deacon – lead vocals
- Angus Diggs – drums
- Chris Miller – electric and double bass guitar, string arrangements
- Ian Housten-Shadwell – guitar
- Joe Guiseppe-Accaria – drums, percussion, marimba
- Jan Sebastian – percussion
- Maria Pavela – backing vocals
- Natasha Ramirez – violin
- Carolyn Shine – keyboards, backing vocals
Albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Diaphones |
|
129 |
| Earthgirl |
|
166 |
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| On |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Chart peak |
|---|---|---|
| "Fall" | 1997 | 195 |
| "On the Money" | 1998 | — |
| "Long Way" | 1998 | — |